Change Of Diet For children With Autism Suffering - Nutrition and ...

significantly lower in those on a gluten- and casein-free diet, although lymphocyte
populations were not influenced by diet.The data provide further evidence of a
pan-enteric mucosal immunopathology in children with regressive autism that is
apparently distinct from other inflammatory bowel diseases.
Descriptors: *Autistic Disorder--pathology--PA; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases-pathology
--PA; *Intestinal Mucosa--pathology--PA; *Intestine, Small--pathology-
-PA; *Lymphocytes--immunology--IM ; Adolescent; Autistic Disorder-immunology--IM;
Biopsy; Child; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel
Diseases--immunology--IM; Intestinal Mucosa--immunology--IM; Intestine,
Small--immunology--IM; Lymphocyte Subsets--immunology--IM
Record Date Created: 20040319
Record Date Completed: 20041007
Use of complementary and alternative treatments for
children with autistic spectrum disorders is increasing.
Levy Susan E; Hyman Susan L
Division of Child Development and Rehabilitation, Children's Seashore House,
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Pediatric annals ( United States ) Oct 2003 , 32 (10) p685-91 , ISSN: 0090-
4481--Print Journal Code: 0356657
Publishing Model Print
Document type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Languages: ENGLISH
Main Citation Owner: NLM
Record type: MEDLINE; Completed
Subfile: INDEX MEDICUS
Interventions considered to be CAM are in constant flux. New treatments emerge,
older treatments become less popular, and the cycle recurs. Data supporting new
treatments should be scrutinized for scientific study design, clinical safety, and
scientific validity. Many families approach the clinician armed with brochures,
handouts, and printouts from Web sites that are dedicated to the care and
support of parents and children with ASD. A recent web search using "autism and
detoxification" resulted in almost 8,000 sites. The Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!)
Project arose in 1995 from collaboration of members of the Autism Research
Institute. The DAN! Project advocates a specific and extensive protocol for
diagnosis and treatment and can be viewed at http://www.autism.com/ari/#dan.
The scientific validation and support for many interventions is incomplete and
disparate from the recommendation in the American Academy of Pediatrics Policy
Statement. Families should be encouraged to discuss all proposed investigations
or treatments they wish to try with their primary care provider so the practitioner
can serve as the medical home (Sidebar, page 688). The clinician should
communicate and collaborate with the family and educational professionals to
encourage objective identification of what works. With increasing access to health
information and societal pressure for families to actively participate in their health
management, continued growth of interest in CAM can be anticipated. Clinicians
must remember that parents may have different beliefs regarding the
effectiveness of treatment and different tolerance for treatment risks.
Practitioners must keep avenues of communication open, remain open-minded,
and not assume a "don't ask, don't tell" posture in the context of providing a
medical home to the increasing number of children diagnosed with autism.
Descriptors: *Autistic Disorder--psychology--PX; *Complementary Therapies-methods--MT;
*Mental Disorders--etiology--ET; *Mental Disorders--therapy--TH ;
Child, Preschool; Complementary Therapies--adverse effects--AE; Evidence-Based
Medicine; Food Habits; Gastrointestinal Agents--therapeutic use--TU; Humans;